Manifolding assembly



March 5, 1946. J. A. GILBERT MANIFOLDING ASSEMBLY Filed July 21, 1944 INVENTOR, J 4 6/1. 5527;

Patented Mar. 5, 1946 MANIFOLDING ASSEMBLY Joseph A. Gilbert, Emeryville, Calif assignor to Moore Business Forms, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application July 21, 1944, Serial'No. 545,974-

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in manifolding assemblies, more particularly to such assemblies including a plurality of record and transfer sheets or strips arranged in a unitary assembly for transfer inscription, and particularly adapted for use in writing machines having cylindrical platens adapted to frictionally engage the manifolding assembly to feed it for line spacing and for other purposes.

It is a. general object of the invention to provide a manifolding assembly of the class mentioned having an improved structure and arrangement whereby undue bulging or wrinkling or other deformities or irregularities are avoided when the assembly is passed around a cylindrical platen, thus increasing the frictional tractive effort on the assembly when fed over cylindrical platen. particularly platens equipped with friction pressure rolls.

In manifolding assemblies such as the assembly herein disclosed having a fiap at one longitudinal edge folded down under along a longitudinal fold line to hold and position record sheets such as loose ledger sheets, considerable difficulty has been heretofore experienced in feeding such manifolding assemblies over cylindrical platens of the friction feed type. This difficulty is caused by bulges, folds and other distortions or irregularities in the manifolding assembly along the longitudinal marginal fold thereof and when the as-' sembly is bent to conform to the cylindrical surface of the platen. Due to such distortions of the assembly there has not been enough frictional tractive effort of the platen surface upon the assembly to effect accurate feeding for line spacing, resulting in slippage causing irregular line spacing; crooked lines, overlapping typing, slowing down ofthe writing operation, and other unsatisfactory conditions. These difllculties have been effectively overcome by this invention by providing the assembly with an improved structhis invention is to provide for manifolding assemblies of the class mentioned, an improved structure embodying cutouts or punching along the length of the folded marginal portion of the assembly so as to break up or absorbthe bulges and other irregularities and to provide a more uniform frictional tractive surface which isfengaged by the frictional feeding surface of the cylindrical platen. A- further object of the invention is to provide the apertures or cutouts only in the folded flap portion of the assembly which comes into direct engagement with the frictional feeding surface 01 the platen so as to increase the frictional traction, while the overlying record sheets of the assembly are free from such cutouts or apertures which would result in objectionable mutilation.

Another object of the invention is to provide for easy foldingof the record sheet along a longitudinal line by providing scoring or otherwise weakening the paper along the line of traction -fied in theconstruction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.-

For a morecomplete disclosure of the nature, objects and advantages of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description of the illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention, and to the accompanying drawing. in which Fig. .1 is a partially diagrammatic perspective view of a part of a manifolding assembly embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 isa partially diagrammatic perspective view of a complete manifolding assembly; I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the manner of attaching the carbon or transfersheet;

-' Fig. 4 is a partially diagrammatic enlarged end view of the assemblyshown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away and in section;. and

Fig. 5 is a partially diagrammatic enlarged end view ofthe assembly of Fig. 2', parts of the flap being broken away and in section,

Referring to the drawingfor a detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention there shown, a recordsheet 6 of paper or similar material and of any suitable width and length is provided with 'one or more blank forms I for receiving the inscriptions, and has preferably at one of its longitudinal edges a flap 8. This flap as shown preferably extends for. the

entire length of the record sheet and is separated from the latter by a longitudinal weakened line 9 which may be formed by well known means such as scoring, slitting, perforating or the like. The flap-may vary in width somewhat dependent upon the size of the record sheet 6, but will be of suflicient width to provide a support and attached to the latter so as to form a part of the manifolding assembly. This transfer sheet is provided with an attaching extension H extending across the weakened severance line 9 and is attached by a strip 01- spots of adhesive [2 to the flap 8. The carbon sheet is provided on its lower surface with a coat l3 of transfer material, but the attaching extension ii is left free from such coating so a; to provide a clean attaching margin for the reception of the adhesive.

Preferably extending along a longitudinal marginal portion of the flap 8 and adjacent to the weakened severance line is a row I 4 of formations which are preferably in the form of cutouts or apertures l5 which may be either circular as shown or some other shape. While the size of these apertures may vary, a diameterof substantially one-quarter inch has been found in practice to be satisfactory. As later more fully described, these apertures function to avoid undue irregularities in the assembly when passed over a cylindrical platen, so as to break up or absorb the bulges, folds and similar distortions that tend to form when the folded edge of the assembly is bent to conform to the cylindrical platen surface.

As shown in Fig. 2, the flap 8 in its normal operative position is folded to underlie the assembly, being folded substantially along the weakened serverance line 9 which thus aids in folding the flap from its flat position shown in Fig. 1 to its normal position in Fig. 2. During such folding operation, the carbon sheet I 0 is also folded along the attaching extension il. When thus folded, the flap 8 provides a support and positioning device for an additional loose record sheet IS in aligned position with relation to the overlying record sheet 6. It will be seen that the adjacent or overlapping surfaces of the folded flap 8 and of the record sheet 6 are free from attachment with each other thus forming an open receiving pocket in which the loose record sheet I6 is received and supported. This addi-' tional record sheet l6 often is made of a width to project at its outer longitudinal edge, slightly beyond the adjacent edge of the sheet 6 and is ordinarily in the form of a. loose ledger sheet which may be of slightly heavier stock than the record sheet 8 and of different quality and provided with a blank form similar to the blank form 1. This loose ledger sheet is received at its longitudinal marginal portion within the fold of the flap 8 and is thus properly aligned with the sheet 6. When the ledger sheet I8 is in its that the overlying assembly layers including the record sheets i and it are imperforate or unprovided with apertures corresponding with apertures I5 and I1.

As above mentioned, when a record assembly having a longitudinal fold is passed around a cylindrical platen, there is a tendency of the assembly layers to become distorted due to the bending thereof, resulting in bulges, pockets, folds or similar irregularities which tend to decrease the frictional traction of th platen surface upon the assembly. Because of such distortions in the assembly, there is frequently insufficient tractional effort to feed theassembly properly for line spacing and for other purposes. due to the slippage of the platen surface over'the surface of the assembly. This improved arrangement of the formations or apertures IS in the flap 8 which contacts directly with the platen surface, results in a very efiective breaking up or absorption of the irregularities and provides a more uniform and regular friction surface so that the frictional. feeding effort of the platen is increased and the accurate feeding of the assembly for line spacing, etc., is effected. Also the frictional feeding effort is increased considerably by the presence of the apertures l5 independently of distortion elimination, due to the engagement of aperture edges with the platen surface, and this result is increased when the apertures are overlapp d and backed up on the inside by the registering parts of the record sheet 6 or of the ledger sheet l8. Thus it will b seen that irregular line spacing, crooked lines, overlapping typing, etc., will be substantially avoided. Also, the time required for making the manifold inscriptions will be materially decreased.

In some cases it is desirable to provide a selective grip position or formation in the assembly normal operative position, its marginal portion the flap 8 and the attaching extension II, and

whereby the record sheet 6 can be gripped to the exclusion of the carbon sheet I-O. Thus the carbon sheet may be cut out at the corner as indicated at It. By this means the corner of the record sheet 6 can be gripped to the exclusion of the carbonusheet and severed from the assembly by exerting a tearing pull along the weakened severance line 9, thus severing the record sheet from its binding in the assembly.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having thus been fully described, the following is claimed:

1. In a manifolding unit, in combination, a record sheet, a flap positioned along a longitudinal margin of and integral with said record sheet and folded on one side of the latter along a longitudinal fold line into overlapping relation with the record sheet, the adjacent overlapping surfaces of said record sheet and flap being free from each other so as to form a positioning and supporting open pocket for receiving and supporting an additional record sheet, said flap having a longitudinal series of formations extending substantially entirely across the unit adjacent to said fold line so as to prevent bulges, wrinkles or other irregularities in the unit when passed over a cylindrical platen, or the like.

2. In a manifolding unit, in combination, 9. recon one side of the latter along a longitudinal fold line, the adjacent overlapping surfaces of said record sheet and flap being free from each other so as to form a positioning and supporting open pocket for receiving and supporting an additional'record sheet, said flap having a longitudinal series of apertures extending substantially entirely across the unit adjacent to said fold line so as to prevent cylindrical platen or the like. thus to increase frictional traction with the platen and a transfer sheet in transfer relation with said record sheet undue bulging or wrinkling or other irregularities in the unit when passed over a cylindrical platen, or the like, and a transfer medium positioned in the unit for transfer inscription and attached to said unit outsideof said series of apertures.

3. In a manifolding unit, in combination. a record sheet, a, flap positioned along a longitudinal margin 'of and integral with said record sheet and 'folded on one side of the latter along a longituries of formations between the latter and said record sheet and providing for severance of the latter,

and a transfer medium supported in said unit.

4. In a manifoldlng unit, in combination, a record sheet, a flap positioned along a longitudinal margin of and integral with said record sheet and folded on one side of the latter along a longitudinal fold line, said flap having a longitudinal series of apertures extending. substantially entirely across the unit along and adjacent to said fold line so as to absorb bulges, wrinkles or other irregularities in the unit when passed over a cylindrical platen or the like, and a longitudinal weakened severance line extending along said series of apertures between the latter and said record sheet and providing for severance of said record sheet.

5. In a manifolding assembly, in combination, a record sheet, a flap positioned along a longitudinal margin of and integral with said record sheet and folded on one side of the latter along a longitudinal fold line, said nap having a longitudinal line of apertures extending along and adjacent to said fold line as to avoid bulsi s, wrinkles or other irreguiarrties in the assembly when passed over a and having an attaching margin extending aeross said tab and having a longitudinal line of apertures similar to said apertures of the tab and respectively aligned'therewith.

6; In a manifolding assembly, in combination, a

record sheet, a flap positioned along a longitudinal margin .of and integral with said sheet and folded on one side of the latter along a longitudinal fold line so as to form a positioning and supporting means for an additional record sheet, said flap having a longitudinal line of apertures adjacent to said fold line so as to prevent undue bulging or wrinkling or other irregularities in the assembly when passed over a cylindrical platen or the like, and a transfer sheet having an attaching margin extending across said fold line and attached to said flap.

'7. In a manifolcling assembly, in combination, a record sheet, a flap positioned along a longitudinal margin of and integral with said record sheet and folded on one side of the latter along a longitudinal fold line, said flap having a longitudinal line of apertures adjacent to said fold line so as to avoid bulges, wrinkles, or other irregularities in the assembly when passed over a, cylindrical platen or the like, and a loose record sheet supported and positioned in the assembly by said flap and having its marginal portion overlapping the said apertures of said folded flap.

8. In a manifolding assembly, in combination, it

record sheet, a flap positioned along a longitudinal'margin of and integral with said record sheet and folded downwardly on the underside of the latter along a longitudinal fold line, said flap having a longitudinal series of apertures extend-- ing substantially across the assembly along and adjacent to said fold line so as to avoid bulges, wrinkles or other irregularities in the assembly when passed over a cylindrical platen or the like, and thus to increase the frictional traction of the platen on said assembly, said record sheet having parts thereof positioned to overlap or register with the respective apertures of said series of apertures of said flap. v

JOSEPH A. GILBERT. 

